OMD Release Special 40th Anniversary Edition Of Classic Hit, ‘Enola Gay’

Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark (OMD) have today announced a limited edition 12” colored vinyl release of the band’s legendary anti-war hit single “Enola Gay”, to celebrate the 40th anniversary of its original release, and 75 years since the World War II atomic bombing of Hiroshima by the Enola Gay aircraft.

The release, which is available physically on November 27, features two brand new mixes of the track by Andy McCluskey and Paul Humphreys. One extended mix uses the original master multi-track that sounds like the 12″ version that never was, but should have been released in 1980. The second is a slowed down, chilled out rework that is far removed from the original, but remains undeniably glorious on its own terms

The digital version is available to purchase today, and pre-orders for the 12” colored vinyl are available now. The band have also unveiled a special new and enhanced HD version of the original “Enola Gay” video, which you can check out below.

The single has also received a hypnotic remix from Hot Chip’s Al Doyle, out today. Of the remix, Doyle comments; “Getting your hands on the raw material of “Enola Gay” feels like stealing into hallowed halls. It’s already a perfect song, so this is just a tribute and an homage, made all the more meaningful with the occurrence this year of the 75th anniversary of the atomic bombs on Japan. OMD forever.”

Recorded at Ridge Farm Studios in Dorking, and released on September 26, 1980, “Enola Gay” was the only single from the band’s second studio album Organisation.

Lyrically detailing the atomic bombing on Hiroshima during World War II by the B29 Superfortress aircraft, the song scored a UK Top 10 on the singles charts and went on to become an international success, selling more than 5 million copies worldwide and ingraining itself as a synth pop classic and arguably OMD’s signature track.

The band will also perform a special live streamed show from London’s Indigo at The O2 on October 24 – set to raise money and awareness for their crew, whose livelihoods have been so affected in the wake of the global Covid-19 pandemic.

Listen to the best of OMD on Apple Music and Spotify.